For those who have switched from Celebrity to Oceania…

[Croooser]

2 hours ago, keylimecake said:

I have already made some poor decisions not understanding the O culture and customs onboard.  I did not understand that most guests eat in the MDR and we can only schedule 2 reservations for Tuscan Steak prior to sailing.  

We also plan and schedule our own land tours/ plans in each port.  Thank you in advance for any and all suggestions for the O newbies!

With respect to most guests eat in the MDR...That is true for some, but not all and perhaps not even most. We tend to avoid the MDR and go to the terrace or Waves when not at a specialty. Pretty sure that we are not alone there as we tend to sit in the same general area as do some others. We see a lot of the same people. Terrace is always quite busy at peak times for all meal times. Our preference is based on the convenience of self selecting exactly what and how much we want. In addition, much (not all) of what is on the MDR menu is on the terrace menu. Of course, if having table service is a preference, the MDR wins hands down.  

 

YMMV

[MEFIowa]

7 hours ago, keylimecake said:

... I have already made some poor decisions not understanding the O culture and customs onboard. I did not understand that most guests eat in the MDR... We also plan and schedule our own land tours/ plans in each port....

We've had 4 cruises on O since our very first cruise ever on Riviera (12/2021), two in the Caribbean and 2 in the Med.

 

1) We've NEVER eaten in the GDR/MDR on any of our 40 nights. We much prefer the Terrace Cafe (eating under the stars) and don't want to sit down for slow table service, other than in the specialty restaurants.

 

2) We also mainly do our own excursions, only having done a few O excursions on the last cruises. But we did all of our own for the first 2 cruises. And we do our own for the truly "important" ones. We did private driver/guide for Rome & Ephesus, and took public transportation (bus & metro) in Istanbul for the 4 days we were there (2 separate overnights on a B2B) to get to the old walls of Constantinople 4 miles out with a walk back to the metro for the return.

[jonthomas]

On 2/13/2024 at 11:33 AM, Oceangoer2 said:

Thanks for your comments.  We're considering an O cruise, but between O and X we're finding similarities in reviews, good and not so good.  Hard to let go of the familiar being E+ on X.  Our close friends who are dedicated O patrons are on board with you (17 day cruise) but first for them on Vista.  They will love it as they do all their O cruises.  Only downside for (one of) them on a Regatta 28 day last year was different food items they really like ran out. Maybe it's a male species complaint?😉

 

all your loyalty perks on C are included on O for everyone...like all your sodas, wifi, etc...

 

we are elite plus on C, but will not go back...in 3 years have built up a loyalty base on O and will now have 10 cruises under out belt, which includes gratuities and 250 OBCs...and yes we will get to a free cruise at 19, hopefully in not too distant a future.

 

cant do that on C....we basically left C because of the Class system and the awful food if you are classless.....on O you dont feel there is a class system...whether you are on your 20th or your 1, you are not separated from your friends...

 

 

[keylimecake]

Thank you for all of the thoughful and insighful comments.  We will try the MDR as we prefer and appreciate the service and the surroundings of a classic dining room.  I am confident that we will love every thing that O has to offer.  

[QuestionEverything]

8 hours ago, jonthomas said:

 

all your loyalty perks on C are included on O for everyone...like all your sodas, wifi, etc...

 

we are elite plus on C, but will not go back...in 3 years have built up a loyalty base on O and will now have 10 cruises under out belt, which includes gratuities and 250 OBCs...and yes we will get to a free cruise at 19, hopefully in not too distant a future.

 

cant do that on C....we basically left C because of the Class system and the awful food if you are classless.....on O you dont feel there is a class system...whether you are on your 20th or your 1, you are not separated from your friends...

 

 

Dear jonthomas - Thank you for your wonderful post. 

Yes, the premium and luxury lines are basically classless - that is THE main reason we left Celebrity, despite patronizing them from 2001 to 2018. 

On the premium and luxury levels of cruise lines - you mingle, laugh, learn, analyze, hug, cry, complain, praise, hoist a glass, argue, share meals, share shoes, slap hands, nod, scratch your head, with EVERYONE!

Everyone - that was the originating objective of the cruise lines way back, Ted Avison, originator of Carnival who said, "every cruise line patron is important and equal". He would not be happy today with the mass lines today.